The Marshall Islands & the Bomb

Between 1946 and 1958, the United States detonated 67 nuclear bombs on, in and above the Marshall Islands — vaporizing whole islands, carving craters into its shallow lagoons and exiling hundreds of people from their homes.

Operation Crossroads

The first testing series in the Marshall Islands occurred under Operation Crossroads. The purpose of Operation Crossroads was to investigate the effect of nuclear weapons on naval warships. Testing in the islands began at Bikini Atoll with the Shot Able test, on July 1, 1946. After Shot Able, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists confirmed the power of these weapons. They determined that soldiers on ships up to a mile away from this explosion would be instantly be killed.

The U.S. then conducted the Shot Baker test on July 25.

From the Youtube video on Operation Crossroads

These tests were the first time that the U.S. tested nuclear weapons since the Trinity Test in 1945. These were also the first U.S. nuclear detonations since the “Little Boy” and “Fat Man” bombs dropped over Japan. Operation Crossroads ended on August 10, 1946, due to concerns over radiation, especially to the soldiers involved. In 1969, the U.S. began a long term project to decontaminate Bikini Atoll.

IVY

Operations Greenhouse and Ivy

In January of 1950, President Truman made the decision to increase U.S. research into thermonuclear weapons, which would lead to further U.S. nuclear testing. Operation Greenhouse, was a series of nuclear tests conducted at Eniwetok Atoll in 1951. These were done to test design principles that would later become pivotal in the development of the hydrogen bomb. The tests aimed to reduce the overall size of nuclear weapons, including the necessary amount of fissile material, while increasing their destructive power.

The U.S. conducted its first series of thermonuclear tests, Operation Ivy, at Eniwetok Atoll, in November of 1952. Shot Mike was the first successful hydrogen bomb test. Then, on November 16, the U.S. conducted the King Shot.

Marshall Is. test sites

Castle Bravo

The U.S. conducted its largest nuclear detonation ever, Castle Bravo, at Bikini Atoll on March 1, 1954. This was part of Operation Castle, a series of thermonuclear tests. Bravo was over 1,000 more times powerful than “Little Boy.” Bravo used a device called “Shrimp” which used lithium deuteride as its fuel. Bravo was the first test of a deliverable hydrogen bomb.

Bravo fallout pattern

Despite potential risks, Major General Percy Clarkson and scientific director Dr. Alvin C. Graves ordered the test to continue as planned. Due to Castle Bravo radioactive debris was released into the atmosphere, and to surrounding atolls. The test was more powerful than scientists predicted. Ocean currents, weather conditions, and wind patterns contributed to this spread of fallout and debris. The fallout was composed of pulverized coral, water, and radioactive particles, and it fell into the atmosphere appearing as ashy snowflakes. This affected nearby atolls and U.S. servicemen. Traces of radioactive material were later found in parts of Japan, India, Australia, Europe, and the United States. This was the worst radiological disaster in U.S. history and caused worldwide backlash against atmospheric nuclear testing.

Bikini Is. relocation

Relocation of the Marshallese

In 1946, Navy Commodore Ben Wyatt met with the 167 people living on Bikini Atoll. Wyatt asked the Marshallese to relocate, and for use of their atoll “for the good of mankind.” He explained that they were a chosen people and that perfecting atomic weapons could prevent future wars. The residents were promised they could return one day, but realistically they had no choice in this matter. Immediately following this speech, the U.S military began preparations to relocate the residents to Rongerik Atoll, an uninhabited island with limited resources 125 miles away. Residents of Bikini Atoll resettled in 1969, but then evacuated in 1978, after radiation levels were determined to be excessive.

A month later, the Marshallese filed a complaint with the UN, but this did not prevent U.S. nuclear testing. In 1948, the U.S. government forced residents of Eniwetok Atoll to evacuate due to expanded nuclear testing with Operation Sandstone.

Now and Then

Timeline:

7/1/1946: Testing begins at the Marshall Islands, with Shot Able.

7/25/1946: Shot Baker is conducted, under Operation Crossroads.

4/30/1948: Shot Yoke, under Operation Sandstone, is conducted. This was the first fission weapon to use a levitated core design.

11/1/1952: The Mike Shot is conducted at Eniwetok, under Operation Ivy. This was the first U.S. thermonuclear test.

6/28/1958: The Oak test is conducted, at Eniwetok Atoll, under the Operation Hardtack I series. This was the 6th largest U.S. nuclear test. Hardtack I included 35 total tests. Hardtack I was the last testing series conducted on the Marshall Islands.

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About GP Cox

Everett Smith served with the Headquarters Company, 187th Regiment, 11th A/B Division during WWII. This site is in tribute to my father, "Smitty."
GPCox is a member of the 11th Airborne Association. Member # 4511 and extremely proud of that fact!

I was born on the Majuro however was adopted into the US. I would love to hear what the locals have to say about this day. Its sad that the radiation even got onto the capital but yet is still liveable.

Schools are teaching less and less history – and even when they did, they did not stress just how much we should be remembering and learning from past mistakes. War, it seems, is ingrained in our nature – perhaps because we have no other predator to keep our numbers in check?

Very informative piece of history gp, I never realised the extent of these tests until during my army days as an Occupational Health and Safety officer, I was tasked with going to Maralinga Island to test radiation levels, ground zero actually recorded clear but for miles around there was topsoil radiation, the winds and climate had moved ground zero. I think the Marshall Island residents got a raw deal all round. Cheers.

Let us hope the future generations of leaders around the world are wiser. Much irreparable damage occurred in the last century, and is still ongoing. The view of the Earth from space speaks volumes. There is no where else to go if we foul this planet beyond repair. And what will have been gained? Nothing.

Operation Ivy, Operation Greenhouse, Operation Sandstone — they all sound so pleasant. A friend who was in the military once told me, “The nicer the name, the worse the intended consequences.” As you’ve pointed out, there are times when the unintended consequences take it to another level.

I had no idea of the extent of the testing that went on in the islands. They would have contaminated not only the islands but the ocean as well. Too many care only about their own little project and not its effect on the rest of the world. Thanks for telling us the whole story.

I remember as a young guy in New Zealand walking through (summer, about three-fourish, afternoon) unexplained showers of a lightish ‘snowy ash’ – kind of flakes. Nobody could explain and in honesty I don’t think most even noticed. Place was Papatoetoe (official pronunciation Parper/toy/toy) (but to most it’s still Pappa/towee/towee).

At 1,000 times more powerful that the previous two A-bombs, I find it impossible to believe that all involved, scientific and military, were not fully aware of the ramifications of detonating H-bombs in these tests. But I am also reminded that the Cold War ‘Arms Race’ made many normal considerations secondary to ‘keeping ahead of the enemy’.
Great post, GP.
Best wishes, Pete.

Oh yes, GP! This forced me to get the information. You can not understand whats actually happens, without the view to the past. As example our nobility, and their influence to the politicans.;-) DJT must be their evilst nightmare. Lol

I believe technically, the Hiroshima bombs were “atomic”. Subsequent testing involved “nuclear” bombs. Still, when I watch how the Navy “cleaned” up the surviving surface warships after a blast, I am dumbfounded. Did you hear that at Chernobyl, the radioactivity created a new type of fungus or mold that eats radiation (or something like that)?

It was not well done. I don’t suppose the scientists cared much about the ramifications (I can’t believe they had no idea) they got high on the development of their awesome WOMD’s and were tunnel visioned.

What a great history recap (as you always provide)! I was actually just recently reading about the Marshall Island bombings when I learned I had an uncle who was there at the time and was injured. Very interesting. Thanks for sharing! And as always, salute to you, Sir! ❤

I have a copy of my father’s orders : ” 1 Sept. Proceed to USS Haven on or about 26 March for transportation to Bikini .” He was a Navy medical officer at the Bikini test . Was it the first Bikini test ? The Navy had sent him through UC Berkeley to attain a PhD in nuclear physics . The medical personnel immediately realized that the fleet was too close to the explosion. My father’s superior had sent a letter to the fleet admiral to move the ships back and the answering letter explained that a Navy fleet was not like ducks in a bathtub and could not be so easily moved , so they stayed put .

As you would know ours was at Maralinga, and indigenous people were summarily moved from the region. Similar time period. I had read a little of the Marshall Islands testing many years ago, I still feel a sorrow for how they were treated.

Thank you for this fascinating blog! I wasn’t aware of the details of this part of History and now I am excited for the possibilty of answering a question about it in my next Pub Quiz! Especially as you made the Time line so clear!
Best Wishes,
Charlotte

I’m surprised the soldier was using Excel instead of Powerpoint. The Pentagon abounds in Powerpoint Rangers and Death by Powerpoint is not yet recognized as a cause of death, Fascinating post–guess we don’t treat ‘others’ much better than the countries we condemn for doing something similar.

On this it is hard for me to condemn too many, except the scientists. Despite my own education being mainly science orientated, I doubt many of the politicians or military understood the radiation or bomb at all. It should have been the specialists to explain the affects. IMO

So many?! I wonder how this works today, unbeknown to (most of us).
A MAC is great, have you considered getting one in the near future? 🙂

The last joke-image reminded me of the last meeting in the photographic society. A member volunteered to show he edits his photos and it obviously was a fatal mistake as he couldn’t explain or find anything. 🙂

The storm Ciara is chasing our garden waste bags through the garden right now, have to rush and rescue them. Take care, GP Cox,
warm greeting from the stormy coast! x

Dina,
No, I haven’t really gotten ready to purchase a new computer, but I will consider a Mac when I have to. As far as that last cartoon goes – I’m one of the people leaning over his shoulder because I’m so computer illiterate.
I appreciate you stopping in to read this article and comment. I certainly hope Ciara doesn’t destroy your garden!
Try to enjoy the week, the storm should pass soon.
GP Cox